Mário Cruz / Lusa
“It is a documentary for non -Gypsies, so that they know what the community suffered and not for Gypsies, because it would generate revolt.” With the recreation of repressive laws we seek to lead to “reparatory measures”.
A documentary made in Elvas by 20 actors, of which 17 Gypsies shows how a set of repressive laws over the centuries has suppressed the Gypsy culture and language, which is hardly spoken in Portugal.
“It is a documentary for non -Gypsiesso that they know what the community suffered and not for Gypsies, because it would generate revolt, ”he began with some irony Luis Romão, president of the Dynamic Syllable Association before the audience he saw the film this Friday in Torres Vedras.
The documentary made by the Elvas Association, entitled “500 years of repressive laws”It lasts 20 minutes and tells the story of a gypsy family that is intended to install in Portugal in the hope of finding a safe place. In this course, you find the hostility of the expulsion orders, the communication difficulties between Portuguese and Romani or the prohibition of using their costumes.
The goal was to “annul Gypsy cultural identity aiming at assimilation,” concludes the narrator in the film, adding that “Speaking Romani was a dangerous act that resulted in punishments” like severe whipping in public and “even the tongue could be cut” in what was a warning to those who intended to maintain traditions. To circumvent the law, they spoke in groups, which reinforced their ties and assumed a form of resistance.
The documentary also shows how these communities were pushed to “the margins of the cities” Where, despite this, they could survive and preserve some traditions like music.
Teaching of Romani as a historical “reparation”
“What we want is to recreate repressive laws with some realism to help you realize, especially political decision makers, technicians and teachers what happened in the last 500 years and how we could create reflections on reparatory measures For these repressive laws, ”he explained to Lusa Rui Salabanda Garrido, head of the association and actor in the movie.
One of the reparatory measures that “we considered it very important was the Teaching of the Romanias a form of repair of this ban that made people virtually do not speak Romani, we launched this reptoe, ”said Rui Salabanda Garrido, the only non -Gypsy of the association.
President Luís Romão stressed that the association’s goal is to show “different ways” Gypsy history and culture.
“We work with AIMA [Agência para a Integração Migrações e Asilo]we competed for funds that allow us to go national to present this documentary about repressive laws, but we already had a play, ”he said.
In this case, “History of Ciganinho Chico“It took, in a tale, the history and Gypsy culture to children from all over the country through an animated play. In this play we showed our history and traditions, this is our goal, in different ways, through theater and in this case of the documentary, to show the reality of Gypsy communities,” he said.
The documentary has already been presented at Porto, Figueira da Foz, Portalegre, Borba, Elvas and Torres Vedras.
